The 1971 Mercury Cyclone Spiler is a rare beast, with only 353 examples rolling off the line. Our feature car is one of those vehicles, with its rarity enhanced by a few factory options. It is a solid project… more»
Survivor Cars
Not all barn finds are rusty! Here are the very best unrestored classics:
Sep 13, 2024 • For Sale • 25 Comments
Italian Survivor Sedan: 1973 Fiat 124 Special
Despite sitting out in the snow in the Boulder, Colorado area, this 1973 Fiat 124 Special Sedan appears to be a very solid and nice-looking car, cosmetically. I believe this color is called Fiat Yellow, but hopefully, a Fiat… more»
Sep 13, 2024 • For Sale • 16 Comments
Recently Restored: 1971 Plymouth Road Runner
The seller indicates that this 1971 Plymouth Road Runner underwent a comprehensive restoration last year. However, carefully examining the supplied images confirms there are still a few minor tasks awaiting its new owner in their quest for perfection. It… more»
Sep 13, 2024 • For Sale • 23 Comments
No Frills Survivor: 1977 Dodge Aspen
The Dodge Aspen arrived in 1976 as the successor to the aging Dart. Over at Plymouth, a badge-engineering version of the automobile called the Volare replaced the Valiant. There were no major leaps forward in the cars from a… more»
Sep 13, 2024 • For Sale • 7 Comments
Swedish Survivor: 1968 Saab 96 Deluxe
I have always found it sad that Saab is a company that joined the long list of manufacturers that are no longer with us. It produced some of the most interesting and quirky vehicles in automotive history, with many… more»
Sep 13, 2024 • For Sale • 15 Comments
Low Miles, Two Owners: 1984 Volkswagen Scirocco
Volkswagen set about replacing the Karmann Ghia in the early 1970s, beginning with a design by Giorgetto Giugiaro. The new car was named Scirocco, after a desert wind (joining the handful of cars from Maserati also named after windy… more»
Sep 13, 2024 • For Sale • 18 Comments
Barn-Stored 46 Years: 1970 Toyota Corona
Though Toyota first entered the U.S. market in 1957, the company didn’t find success until a decade later with the “mid-size” Corona. It would soon be followed by the Corolla and Crown and the rest is history. This 1970… more»
Sep 13, 2024 • For Sale • 44 Comments
American Icon Serial Number 001: 1954 GMC Scenicruiser
While there were serious issues to deal with in the America of the 1950s, there was also a sense that it was a country on the move. Cars were getting larger, sleeker, and faster. The passenger aviation industry was… more»
Sep 13, 2024 • For Sale • 14 Comments
Supercoupe? 1976 Oldsmobile Starfire SX 5-Speed
Oldsmobile brochures touted the 1976 Oldsmobile Starfire SX as being a “Sport Coupe” and “Supercoupe” and this V6 five-speed example looks like a nice project car. The seller wasn’t sure if this was an SX or GT, but a… more»
Sep 13, 2024 • For Sale • 19 Comments
Garaged 40 Years: 1969 Plymouth Valiant Signet
The ol’ thumb-covering-the-license-plate trick… (in my best Maxwell Smart voice) (too obscure?). I wish sellers could figure out a better way to cover their license plates, but when it comes to online vehicle photos, in general, we seem to… more»
Sep 12, 2024 • For Sale • 18 Comments
No Reserve Donation: 1984 Chevrolet Corvette
I wasn’t even seven years old when the 1984 Corvette was introduced, but even at that tender age I knew that it was a big deal. A few years later, I borrowed Michael Lamm’s book titled The Latest Corvette… more»
Sep 12, 2024 • For Sale • 11 Comments
Slant-Six Survivor: 1973 Plymouth Scamp
In 1971, Plymouth added the Valiant Scamp to its roster. It was their version of the Dodge Dart Swinger hardtop coupe. In return, Dodge picked up the fastback Demon, their variant of the Plymouth Duster. Though not as popular… more»
Sep 12, 2024 • Auctions • 15 Comments
BF Auction: 1981 Ford Bronco 4×4 Free Wheeling
Purchasing a classic that recently emerged from hibernation is sometimes a gamble, but that isn’t the case with this 1981 Ford Bronco 4×4 Free Wheeling. The current owner worked through a meticulous revival process that will allow the winning… more»
Sep 12, 2024 • For Sale • 14 Comments
384 Miles! 1994 Subaru Justy DL 5-Speed
I don’t think the eagle-eye Barn Finds readers will find that this 1994 Subaru Justy has 100,384 miles on it, and not just because it has a six-digit odometer showing 000384. This is a definite time capsule. It’s not… more»
Sep 12, 2024 • For Sale • 30 Comments
U.S.-Built Drop-Top: 1985 Renault Alliance
American Motors was never flush with cash, but times were particularly tight in the late 1970s and early 1980s. AMC wasn’t “big enough” to be saved like Chrysler, who was the beneficiary of a mega loan by the U.S…. more»
Sep 12, 2024 • Exclusives • 8 Comments
BF Exclusive: 1972 Ford Mustang Convertible
In 1972, Ford referred to its line of Mustang models as “Sports Compacts,” even though they were anything but compact compared to the earlier models and were the largest Mustangs, at least in length. They came in three body… more»
